Projects
1. CSMVS-TCS Project of Conservation of Museum Building, Digitisation & Archival Research and Publication (2019–2022)
CSMVS began its modernisation programme nearly a decade ago to keep pace with the changing needs and trends of a 21st-century museum. Taking this mission forward, CSMVS has undertaken the comprehensive conservation and preservation of its historic building, up-gradation and digitisation of its collections and archival research, and a publication of a book on the history, architecture and collection of the CSMVS to commemorate the Museum’s Centenary Year in 2022. The project is being supported by the TCS Foundation.
2. Building Illumination Project
Upon signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rotary Club of Bombay in November 2018, the Façade and Landscape Lighting of the CSMVS building was completed and inaugurated on 24 April 2019. This project was initiated by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Director General, CSMVS, and was executed by The Rotary Club of Bombay under the Environment Committee chaired by Priyasri Patodia (Founder/Director – Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai) under the presidentship of Vijay Jatia and funded by art aficionado Manoj Israni of Blue Cross.
3. The Solar Project
CSMVS and the Rotary Club of Bombay collaborated in 2015 for the adoption of green policies at the Museum. The Club supported the installation of 48 photovoltaic rooftop panels and around 140 solar panels for the illumination of facades and lawn. The Club also pledged to aid in their maintenance for the upcoming five years. Looking forward, as part of sustainable energy strategy solutions, the following has been planned:
- Installation of 35 KWp capacity Solar PV Systems
- Augmentation of the current Rain Water Harvesting System
- Provisions for a Sewage Treatment Plant
In response to climate change, the Museum aims to play a pivotal role in preserving both its collection and the planet.
4. Manuscript Documentation Project
The Museum has received an amount of ₹ 5 lakhs from Mrs. Mukeeta Jhaveri, Trustee of Shashilata Charitable Trust, Mumbai towards the documentation of the Sanskrit and Prakrit manuscript collection in the CSMVS on 8th August 2018.
The purpose of the grant is as follows:
• Photo documentation
• Meta data collection of texts
• Condition reports for each folio
• Collection of research material related to each manuscript
5. Research, Documentation and Preservation of Kahu-jo Daro Buddhist Stupa Remains in the CSMVS Collection
commenced in 2021, with the generous support of the Bank of America Global Art Initiative. Spearheaded by the Director-General of CSMVS, Mr. Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the project aims to highlight a multi-cultural period in the history of Undivided India manifested in the form of a century-old collection of relics from the Buddhist Stupa site at Kahu-jo Daro, Mirpurkhas, Sindh.
Currently, the CSMVS hosts one of the biggest collections of the site and this distinctive Buddhist terracotta collection demands keen conservation attention. Under the project, the collection and its provenance history will be researched, documented, published, and the artefacts will be scientifically conserved.
6. Conservation of the 16th century manuscript Anvar-i-Suhayli
The Persian translation of the Panchatantra fables, the Anvar-i- Suhayli, at the CSMVS Museum, comprises of over 200 illustrations and was created at Emperor Akbar’s atelier. This fragmented manuscript was conserved under the aegis of the Bank of America Global Art Conservation Project. Click here to see the publication of this project.
7. CSMVS-Tata Trust Art Conservation Initiative Project
The Tata Trusts Art Conservation Initiative proposes to establish, develop and strengthen art conservation centres across India, and to create a cohort of trained art conservators. Executed across 5 zonal institutes and one Academic Institute over a period of four years, one of the objectives of the project will be to conduct advanced material conservation training courses that will help further train practising conservators and establish standards of competence in the field of art conservation. CSMVS Museum Art Conservation Centre has been selected as the zonal centre in the Western region of India for this project with outreach in the states of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra
8. Art Conservation Resurgence Project
is supported by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust aims to create a series of reference documents that will assist custodians of cultural heritage to take care of their collections.